On January 13, a group of visually impaired individuals in Chongqing's Yuzhong district participated in rock climbing organized by the Blind Association of Chongqing City Disabled Persons' Federation. Climbing a wall under 5 meters high, they relied on touch and voice guidance, marking their first experience in the sport. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Yu Chun was touching and feeling the rock wall, ready to experience bouldering, a kind of rock climbing. The colorful climbing holds were divided into various graded routes according to different colors. At this moment, climbing upwards is his only route. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Bouldering doesn't require the use of ropes. With climbing shoes on, Yu began the challenge. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
He scrambled on hands and feet, trying to catch and step on climbing holds of various shapes. Even though he was exhausted and landed on the cushion again and again, Yu Chun smiled like a child, saying, "Cool, I want to do it again!" (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Dou Xiaowen (left) gives massages to his customers every day and does some simple exercises when he has spare time. Last year, accompanied by the volunteers, he began running. He ran 6 km on his first try, and six months later, he finished 22 km in 2.5 hours. He's very happy that he has made many friends because of doing sports. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
After a few climbs on the rock wall, Dou decided to challenge a wall with a 40° incline. Guided by the voice of volunteers, he extended his arms to reach for the climbing hold. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
When she heard that she had reached the top, Zhao Min cheerfully waved her hands in the direction of the voice. Born in the 1990s, Zhao appears delicate, yet she is the most proactive one on the scene. "Prepared for the fall, arms tired and aching, but none of that matters because I made it." (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Blind individuals eagerly try climbing on the rock wall. Liu Yuxia, president of the Blind Association of Chongqing City Disabled Persons' Federation, said that many visually impaired people rarely go out due to their inability to see, and their ways of participating in sports and recreation are relatively limited. With the assistance of the rock climbing gym, over 20 blind individuals, guided by volunteers, experienced climbing for the first time. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
To ensure a smooth process, volunteers conducted a pre-check and even wore blindfolds to simulate situations that blind individuals might encounter during climbing. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Descending from the rock wall, Leng Huamei was panting heavily. Volunteer Fan Xuemei helped her to relax her arms. Accompanied by her family, Leng started her journey from Qijiang district at 6 a.m., taking a bus and then the subway to reach the venue. Watching Leng nearly miss her step on the rock wall multiple times but persistently climbing upward, Fan Xuemei was moved by her tenacity and exclaimed, "You're amazing!" (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
For the first time, climbing instructor Liu Xing took blind individuals rock climbing. He found they were not as fragile as he had imagined. Despite their inability to see, their sense of touch and hearing proved more sensitive during climbing. To maintain balance on the rock wall, they explored additional possibilities. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
Rock climbing is known as the "ballet on the rock wall." Even though they are unable to see, they still keep ascending. In the words of this group of blind individuals, not seeing the top is not the reason to stop. (Photo/Zhang Zhi)
(Liu Meihui, as an intern, also contributed to this report.)